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COURSE CARE

Budget Crunch
February 27, 2015

Budget Crunch

By David A. Oatis, Director
December 1, 2008

The 2008 season is just about in the books, and it has been
a very unusual one. From the weather standpoint, July was the
toughest month of the season as extreme temperatures and wildly
fluctuating humidity produced tremendous stress for the turf.
In direct contrast, August was one of the mildest Augusts.
However, the recent downturn in the economy has produced
financial stress on budgets that will likely dwarf the
environmental stress on the turf. This is not to say that turf
problems did not exist this year, but the recent budgetary
problems have been far more significant at many courses.
Options for cutting costs are routinely discussed during Turf
Advisory Service visits and some courses are having to make
major sacrifices just to keep the doors open.

So, where can dollars be cut from the budget? Perhaps the
more important question is "where can corners NOT be
cut"? A key in working through your budget dilemma is to
go back to basics.

Managing the above and below ground growing environments
is essential for a successful turf management system. Thus,
continue to invest in tree work and your aeration and
topdressing programs. Turf grown in a poor growing
environment is less reliable and more expensive to maintain.
The same is true of turf that is grown in unfavorable soil
environments. Cost cutting here will result in poor turf
performance and much bigger costs down the road.

The biggest part of just about every maintenance budget
is labor costs, and reducing frequency of some of the more
maintenance-intensive practices certainly is worth
consideration. However, be sure to protect key personnel. The
average golfer looks at golf course maintenance workers as
just that, workers. However, it takes a significant amount of
time, effort, and cost to thoroughly train an individual to
do all the tasks involved in golf course maintenance. A
well-trained individual, particularly a motivated one, is a
tremendous resource and one that should be protected.
Well-trained and reliable employees are worth far more than
their salaries might indicate. In dire circumstances, you may
be better off reducing hours if that will allow you to keep
more of your better employees working.

Reducing bunker maintenance by reducing the frequency of
raking is a good option for many courses to save a few
dollars.

Eliminating ornamental planters out on your course and
increased use of perennials in the beds around the clubhouse
both are good ways to reduce costs. Similarly, reconsider use
of hedges on the course because of the labor they require to
maintain.

Use of naturalized rough areas (no-mow areas) represents
an opportunity for reducing mowing costs. However, with the
level of maintenance some golfers expect in naturalized rough
areas, it may actually be cheaper just to mow them as normal
rough. Natural areas only reduce costs if they are minimally
treated (periodic weed control and an annual mowing or
two).

Green Speed - Greens obviously are the most important
area of the course in terms of playability, but dialing back
green speed requirements is another option to save a few
dollars.

Depending on fuel costs, increased use of growth
regulators to reduce mowing frequency in large areas (bunker
banks and/or fairways) is an option worth considering. In
some cases, application of growth regulator combinations will
provide longer term suppression and perhaps even some slight
disease control.

Fertilization - going back to the basics in terms of
fertilization can save some courses hundreds, and perhaps
even thousands, of dollars a year. Try using less expensive
fertilizers and eliminating the use of products sold based on
testimonials rather than solid scientific research.

Reevaluate proposed course improvement projects and
reassess their impact on maintenance costs. For instance,
large, dramatic, and elaborate bunker designs may have a
terrific visual effect, but they also will be much more
expensive to maintain. It may be time to consider whether
simple mounding can accomplish the desired playability effect
as opposed to more expensive and elaborate bunker
designs.

Clearly, there are lots of other options for reducing costs
at golf courses, and this is not intended to be an
all-inclusive list by any means. For additional ideas, read
"Maintenance on a Shoestring" by Pat O'Brien.
/content/dam/usga/pdf/imported/950701.pdfCutting back on continuing education is not
a good idea. The science of managing golf courses is constantly
changing, and staying up-to-date on the latest research and
ideas can save money in the long run.